COACHING

Lockout Lifted! What’s Next For The Vikings?

Readiness factor: Since the end of last season, the Minnesota Vikings have promoted Leslie Frazier from interim to permanent head coach, revamped their offensive staff and forged a new path at quarterback. The lockout hasn’t just cost Frazier the chance to set a new tone in the locker room. He’s also been unable to get his offense introduced, much less installed, and will enter training camp with a truly blank slate at quarterback. For those reasons, the lockout has hit the Vikings as hard as any team in the NFL. It will be a struggle to bring their offense online.

Biggest challenge: One way or the other, the Vikings must quickly identify and prepare a Week 1 starting quarterback. Rookie Christian Ponder received a playbook during the one-day lockout respite in April, but he has still missed valuable offseason prep work. Ponder is said to be smart, but starting as a rookie in Week 1 is difficult enough even with a full offseason. Should the Vikings seek a short-term answer in free agency? At the very least, they’ll need a backup plan if Ponder needs more time.

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Peterson decision looming? Tailback Adrian Peterson is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $10.72 million in 2011. Will the Vikings allow him to play out the final year of the deal? Will they offer him an extension, if for no other reason than to lower his salary-cap number? Those questions were intentionally put off until after the lockout. Well, we’re here. Peterson’s future with the team hangs in the balance.

Adrian Peterson and ‘key players without contracts for 2011′ are the main factors. I think Ray Edwards is as good as gone and Ben Leber will be following. Sidney Rice should get a competitive offer from the Vikings but we simply can’t afford to overpay him as another team may. If we lose Rice to ‘being cheap’ like we did Matt Birk I think a lot of fans will riot. With Pat Williams and Kevin Williams expected to be suspended the first 4 games I think he will need to take a big hit in salary if he wants to retire a Vikings.

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[…] a new QB and being unable to bring in a veteran starter, if they choose to do so. Now that the lockout has been lifted, the Vikings have important decisions to make about Ray Edwards, Ben Leber, Sidney Rice and Pat […]